May 20th was National Quiche Lorraine Day #QuicheLorraineDay. I know real men don’t eat Quiche but I was thinking I might make a Breakfast Quiche one night for dinner because neither Charlie or David have had Quiche which I love. As for Quiche Lorraine it isn’t a Quiche I’ve tried. Have you?
National Quiche Lorraine Day fell on May 20th people could not be more pleased that this dish is getting the attention it so rightly deserves. Quiche Lorraine has humble beginnings in Medieval Europe and has managed to evolve and tingle the taste buds ever since.
Imagine a full English breakfast including Cheesy Eggs, Baked Beans on Toast, Bacon, Sausages, Sautéed Mushrooms, and Veggies on the side. Now, imagine it all comes together in one glorious dish. That’s exactly where Quiche comes in, and why Quiche is here to stay
Though hailed as a French dish, Quiche Lorraine originated in the German Kingdom of Lothringen (modern-day Lorraine), during the 1500s. Lothringen was unique because of its geographical location between both France and Germany, with each Country laying claims to the region at different points in history.
The Germans in Lothringen had an open Pie with bits of Meat, the ‘Kuchen,’ which means ‘Cake’ in German. This savory Cake evolved into the word ‘Kische’ and when France conquered Lothringen, they conquered the rights to the dish as well. It was renamed Lorraine and the spelling of ‘Kische’ was Frenchified into ‘Quiche’ (pronounced kee-sh). The dish was said to be a favorite of Duke Charles III of Lorraine.
Quiche was originally a poor man’s dish, the key components of Quiche Lorraine at the time were Custard made of Cream and Eggs, and Smoked Bacon or Lardons (cubes of Lard), which were cooked on a Bread-base in a cast-iron skillet.
These were all staples that most households had. Cheese was added later on, as it evolved. A traditional Quiche Lorraine also doesn’t include Onions, so adding those will turn a Quiche Lorraine into Quiche Alsacienne.
While not much is known about how National Quiche Lorraine Day itself came into being, Quiche itself rose in popularity in the 1970s and 1980s. Due to its versatility, Quiche became a popular brunch item (and we all know how millennials love brunch) that could be served hot or cold and was equally good as both a vegetarian and non-vegetarian dish.
Though Quiche ended up briefly losing popularity among men in the 1980s (because it was associated with brunch which is a ‘feminine’ concept), Quiche made a comeback by the next decade and is as popular as ever now.
How to Celebrate National Quiche Lorraine Day
- If your creative juices are flowing in the kitchen, National Quiche Lorraine Day would be a great time to try your hand at making Quiche Lorraine. The basics ingredients you need are Bacon, Eggs, Cream, Milk, and Cheese. Stapes for most of us.
- You could go the whole nine yards b making your Pastry from scratch, which always tastes better than a store-bought one. Or does it?
- Pair your Quiche Lorraine with a nice white Alsatian Wine (from the region of Alsace), and go for a picnic with your loved ones, catching the last rays of the Spring sunshine. Leave the electronics at home so you have to talk to each other without distractions.
- Many people find it scary me including to make a Pastry Crust, because the Dough can always be a bit tricky to get right. Take the Bull by the horns today and confront your fears and learn how to make Pastry from scratch. After that, there’s no going back to store-bought Crust, ever. Or is there?
Facts About The Region Of Lorraine
- Feminism has roots in Lorraine and the historical role model for women, Joan of Arc, hails from here.
- The feminine name, Lorraine, is derived from the Germanic ‘Lothar,’ meaning ‘famous army’.
- Alsace and Lorraine is a popular region in France because of its viticulture, producing quality White Wines. Anyone up for a glass of Wine with David and I from Lorraine?
- Apart from its Quiche, Lorraine is known for its Madeleines, Mirabelle Plums, Macarons, and a dish called Lorraine Hotpot.
- The region of Alsace and Lorraine has been a site of a tug-of-war between France and Germany for centuries.
Why People love National Quiche Lorraine Day
The filling of a Quiche involves tossing things into a Eggy Custard, Quiche is a great dish to get the whole family involved in prepping.
A traditional Quiche Lorraine is even simpler, so enjoy bonding in the kitchen as you prepare this delicious savory tart.
Did you know there’s almost no limit to the combinations of things you can put in a Quiche, as long as you have the Eggy Custard part and Pastry. You can even use ingredients that are specific to your culture and make the Quiche your own.
Quiche suitable for all mealtimes, but it can also be adapted to suit different kinds of occasions. So whether you aim to impress your boss over dinner or welcome new neighbors Quiche can be dressed up (or down) to serve the purpose.
Recipe for Quiche Lorraine
Ingredients
1 cup shredded Swiss cheese
⅓ cup minced onion
1 (9-inch) prepared pie crust
2 cups light cream
4 large eggs, beaten
¾ teaspoon salt or to taste
¼ teaspoon white sugar or to taste
⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper
Directions
Place bacon in a large skillet and cook over medium-high heat, turning occasionally, until evenly browned, about 10 minutes. Drain bacon slices on paper towels, then chop coarsely.
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
Sprinkle bacon, Swiss cheese, and onion into prepared pastry crust.
Whisk cream, eggs, salt, sugar, and cayenne pepper in a medium bowl; pour mixture into pastry shell.
Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes. Reduce heat to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C) and continue baking until a knife inserted 1 inch from the edge comes out clean, about 30 minutes.
Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes. Reduce heat to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C) and continue baking until a knife inserted 1 inch from the edge comes out clean, about 30 minutes.
Remove from over let sit for 10 minutes slice and serve.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
